Category: RESOURCES

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Adobe for Women

Adobe for Women is a non-profit association, founded in 2011, whose goal is the recovery and education of earth construction techniques; this is our contribution to a more human and sustainable use of space and the planet’s resources. The goal of this Project is to build 20 sustainable houses in the indigenous village of San Juan Mixtepec, in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca.

The houses are intended for 20 women in difficult circumstances who will participate in the building process. They will slowly appropriate their future home and simultaneously re find their self esteem, work abilities and hope that will transform the spaces into safe, caring places for their families.
The houses are energy efficient and built with local materials such as adobe and bamboo.

[via Treehugger.com]

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Small Scale Big Change

The role of the global architect in society is changing. Instead of waiting for commissions to come their way, architects are initiating and developing practical solutions in response to dramatically changing living conditions in many parts of the world today. Small Scale, Big Change
focuses on a central chapter of this shift, presenting recently built or under-construction works, many of which are constructed of earth, in underserved communities around the globe by these 11 architects and firms: Elemental (Chilean); Anna Heringer (Austrian); Diebedo Francis Kere (Burkinabe); Hashim Sarkis A.L.U.D. (Lebanese); Jorge Mario Jauregui (Brazilian); Frederic Druot, Anne Lacaton & Jean Philippe Vassal (French); Michael Maltzan Architecture (American); Noero Wolff Architects (South African); Rural Studio (American); Estudio Teddy Cruz (American, born Guatemala); and Urban Think Tank (American/Austrian/Venezuelan).

Without sacrificing concern for aesthetics, these architects have developed projects that reveal a post-utopian specificity of place; their architectural solutions emerge from close collaboration with future users and sustained research into local conditions. The projects–which include schools, parks, housing and infrastructural interventions–reveal an exciting change in the longstanding dialogue between architecture and society, as the architect’s roles, methods, approaches and responsibilities are dramatically reevaluated. They also offer an expanded definition of sustainability that moves beyond experimentation with new materials and technologies to encompass larger concepts of social and economic sustainability. Small Scale, Big Change examines the evolving standards of responsibility and participation in architecture and the ways in which architects can engage critically with larger social, economic and political issues currently facing communities around the world.

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Building with Earth

Building with Earth
From Cultural Heritage to Contemporary Architecture
Professionals, Know-how and Techniques in Europe

On Wednesday, 4 and Thursday, May 5th, 2011, in Marseille (France)
Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Chamber of the Hotel of Region
(27, Place Jules Guesde – Marseille 2nd)

This symposium is organized by the Ecole d’Avignon and ICOMOS France, in partnership with the Escola Superior Gallaecia (PT), the Polytechnic University of Valencia (SP), the University of Florence (IT) and the Adviser in Architecture, Urban planning and Environment (CAUE) of Vaucluse (FR), in the framework of the European project Terra Incognita. Earthen architecture in Europe (Culture Programme 2007-2013). It receives the assistance of the Research Laboratory for Historical Monuments (LRMH) and the collaboration of the Confederation of artisans and small companies in the building trade (CAPEB).

We invite you to consult the programme of these days (see attached) and send your registration form before April 22, 2011, to Ms. Victoire DORISE, responsible for coordinating registration (icomos.france@wanadoo.fr or fax: +33 (0)1 47 55 19 61).

The publications which will be presented at the occasion of the symposium are available to order. You can reserve them from now on by returning us the order form attached.

For more information, we suggest visiting the web page of the symposium.

In the continuity of this event, you’re invited to participate to an important meeting dedicated to the launching of an European network for earthen architecture. This meeting is open to all individuals and institutions interested in the field and will be held on Friday, May 6th (10:00 am – 01:00 pm), at the Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (on registration, within the limits of the available places).

Looking forward to meeting you in Marseille,

Yours faithfully,

Michel VAUZELLE, President of the Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur,
Pierre-Antoine GATIER, President of ICOMOS France,
Patrice MOROT-SIR, Directeur de l’Ecole d’Avignon,
Isabelle PALLOT-FROSSARD, Director of the Research Laboratory for Historical Monuments (LRMH).

For more information download:
EA TI COLL PROGR 2011 EN_Mise en page 1.pdf
Fiche inscription EN.doc
Kit Publications_EN.pdf

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TALLER INTERNACIONAL DE ARQUITECTURA SOSTENIBLE CON TIERRA

TECNOTIERRA COLOMBIA, entidad colombiana desea difundir este evento para el mes de marzo….se esta promoviendo un taller practico integral de arquitectura sostenible con tierra, el taller esta dirigido a todo tipo de publico interesado en aportar al habitar el planeta y construir su hábitat de una forma ecológica y respetuosa con la naturaleza, aminorando el gasto energético de los materiales…en esta experiencia realizaremos la transferencia tecnológica con tres sistemas constructivos. El taller se programo dos fines de semana, 6 días y 48 horas de vivencia practica.

Para mayor información pueden escribirnos y desde allí se les entregara
mayor ilustración con la preinscripción en el correo electrónico

tallerarquitecturatierra@gmail.com, esperamos nos demuestre su intéres y
les haremos llegar todo el contenido del proyecto, el cupo es limitado…

Como sabemos que cada uno de ustedes tiene su red de conocidos, que les
puede interesar el tema les pedimos el favor de colectivizar esta
información y esperamos que cada vez seamos mas profesionales, personas
interesadas y con herramientas para hacer una arquitectura mas respetuosa
con el medio ambiente…..

Atte

Comite organizador y Arq. LUCIA E. GARZON

Coordinadora

Celular 57 3102450630

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US/China Workshop on Earth Based Materials and Sustainable Structures & Forum on Hakka Rammed Earth Buildings (Tulou)’ 2011

The West Virginia University Constructed Facilities Center, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA and Xiamen University Department of Civil Engineering, Xiamen, Fujian, China, in conjunction with the International Symposium on Innovation & Sustainability of Structures in Civil Engineering (ISISS’2011), is pleased to host the US/China Workshop on Earth Based Materials and Sustainable Structures & Forum on Hakka Rammed Earth Buildings (Tulou)’ 2011. The workshop will take place October 28 -30, 2011 at Xiamen University in Xiamen, China.

Thru the proposed workshop, the organizers would like to bring together researchers from the USA and China along with invited participants from Australia, Canada, Japan and UK to conduct a joint workshop at XMU on research potential of earth based materials and sustainable structures. The objectives of the proposed workshop will be: 1) to exchange success stories and lessons learned from the use of rammed earth as a structural material and construction technique for sustainable structures, including review of current rammed earth construction specifications and standards, 2) to address challenges and strategies for advancing the use of earth based structural materials in modern construction, 3) to establish a network of professionals to catalyze collaborative research, development and implementation including international partnerships, and 4) to develop joint R&D programs with emphasis on utilization of rammed earth material in modern construction by minimizing embodied energy. In addition, the workshop participants will have opportunity to witness the sustainability of World Heritage Hakka (ancient) village in-service and learn a few exemplary lessons potentially leading to modifications in contemporary construction techniques.

For more information on the worshop and forum events visit http://www2.cemr.wvu.edu/~rliang/ihta/forum2011.htm. More information on the International Hakka Tulou Alliance (IHTA) can be found by visiting http://www2.cemr.wvu.edu/~rliang/ihta.htm. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the Workshop Organizer: Dr. Ruifeng (Ray) Liang, rliang@mail.wvu.edu, (304) 293 9348

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PUCP – Terra 2012 – Call for submission of abstracts: Deadline extension

CALL FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS: DEADLINE EXTENSION
The organizers of the Terra 2012 Conference are pleased to announce that more than 200 abstracts have been received. In order to meet the request of many people interested in participating in the Conference, the deadline for submission of abstracts has been extended until Monday, March 21st, 2011. For more information go to http://congreso.pucp.edu.pe/terra2012/.

INVITACIÓN A PRESENTAR RESÚMENES DE PONENCIAS: EXTENSIÓN DEL PLAZO
Los organizadores de la Conferencia Terra 2012 tienen el placer de comunicar que se han recibido más de 200 resúmenes de ponencias. Para atender al pedido de muchas personas interesadas en participar en la conferencia se ha ampliado el plazo de recepción de resúmenes hasta el lunes 21 de marzo de 2011. Para más información consultar en http://congreso.pucp.edu.pe/terra2012/.

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EarthUSA 2011

EarthUSA 2011 will be Sep 30, Oct 1 and 2. Location will be at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

This is the Sixth International Earthbuillding Conference sponsored by the Adobe Association of the Southwest and Northern New Mexico College. The National Hispanic Cultural Center and Adobe in Action will also be sponsors. The Adobe Association of the Southwest is expected to turn itself into Adobe USA.

EarthUSA 2011 indicates a wider field of interest than previous conferences and will include adobe, rammed earth, compressed earth block: CEB, and monolithic adobe: cob. Any material or method that uses clay to bind it together is considered.

Calendar:
May 3: Abstracts due
Jun 3: Acceptance notifications
Aug 5: Full Papers due
Sep 9: Proceedings go to press
Sep 30, Oct 1: Conference and Trade Fair
Oct 2: Tour
Oct 3 -7: Classes, Workshops
Oct 1 – 9: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Categories/Themes:
1. Contemporary earthen architecture, construction and engineering
2. Historical buildings, farms, villages and cities including cultural connotations
3. Conservation, Preservation, Replication, Remodeling, Modernizing, Re-purposing
4. The role of earthen materials in heating, cooling, sustainable, ecological, renewable and green design
5. Codes, norms, building methods, material science, seismic considerations
6. Earthbuilding education and technology transfer
7. Marketing strategies for earthen materials in the modern world

Conference Languages:
Spanish and English
Papers will be printed in the Conference Proceedings in the language received. Papers received with translations will be printed in both languages PowerPoint presentations are encouraged to be labeled in both languages

Costs:
The Conference Registration will cost $185 USD with reduction for students. Authors and presenters also pay the registration fee. EarthUSA 2011 is a small conference with few financial resources. A one-day tour will be available Sunday for local earthbuilding sites the cost to be determined. Four and five-day courses and workshops October 3 through 7 are being planned and will include basic adobe construction; rammed earth construction; and arch,vault and dome construction.

Submit your abstract as an e-mail attachment in .DOC format no later than May 3, 2011. Please address your e-mail to: Quentin Wilson, Speakers Committee: earthusa.org@gmail.com

For more information and to download the abstract template visit: www.earthusa.org